The withdrawal of the United States from its long-standing leadership in global health policy has placed Germany in a new key position. As the largest donor, Germany is not only financially committed but also strategically and institutionally engaged in global health. This commitment reflects international solidarity and simultaneously contributes to Germany’s security and economic stability.
Germany’s new role in the global health architecture should be more strongly leveraged in foreign policy. The country enjoys high international recognition – not only due to its financial contributions but also because of its strong scientific landscape, innovative health industry, and reliable multilateral partnerships. Institutions such as WHO, Gavi, the Global Fund, and CEPI benefit from German support. At the same time, Germany is becoming an increasingly attractive location for global health actors.
Global health is also a security issue: pandemics, antimicrobial resistance, and the misuse of biotechnology and AI pose new risks. Global health should therefore be systematically integrated into Germany’s foreign and security policy. Germany should also work within the EU to ensure that Europe becomes more visible as a global health actor and gains influence commensurate with its financial contributions. To strengthen the resilience of its own health system, Germany must also address risks to supply security and diversify through strategic partnerships.
Global health is economically relevant as well: the industrial health sector is a strong growth industry with a high export share. Strategic partnerships with developing and emerging countries not only strengthen their health systems but also enhance Germany’s economic position.
Germany should reinforce its leadership through strategic personnel appointments, strengthen multilateral structures, actively address global health risks, and promote its values in the international order. Global health offers Germany the opportunity to act as a strategic, values-based player in an increasingly multipolar world order.
Read the entire analysis: „Plötzlich in Führung – Deutschlands neue Rolle in der Globalen Gesundheit” here as PDF. Please note, to date the analysis is only available in German.
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The series informs in a concentrated form about important positions of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung on current topics. The individual issues present key findings and recommendations, offer brief analyses, explain the Foundation's further plans and name KAS contact persons.